Asterisk Mahjong Solitaire
About the Asterisk Layout
The Asterisk layout is a compact starburst, several straight spokes radiating outward from one shared center point like a tiny exploding star. Each spoke is a thin line of tiles, and they all meet in a dense hub where the lines overlap. The result is a small, symmetrical, energetic shape with clean arms reaching toward the edges and a thick knot of tiles right in the middle. It is one of the more geometric and tidy boards in the set, pleasing in its radial balance.
At two out of five it is an approachable, quick-playing board, ideal for a short relaxing session. The spokes are the friendly part: each one is a thin strip with the outer tip sitting wide open, so matches come fast along the arms. The only real density is the central hub where every spoke converges, and even that yields readily once you have shortened the arms feeding into it. Play feels brisk and rhythmic, clear an arm, clear an arm, then tidy the middle.
Difficulty: Medium (2/5) | Tiles: 50
How to Clear the Asterisk Layout
Work the spokes from their outer tips inward. The far end of each arm is the most exposed tile on the board, sitting on a free edge with nothing stacked beside it. Pulling each spoke in from its tip is the fastest, safest way to rack up matches and to thin the lines feeding the center.
Spread your attention across all the arms rather than finishing one completely. Because the spokes are symmetrical, clearing them evenly keeps the central hub from being the only thing left while the rest of the board is bare. Rotate around the star, taking a pair from one arm, then the next.
The crux is the hub where every spoke crosses. It is the single densest spot on an otherwise airy board, and its tiles stay buried until the arms around them are mostly gone. Treat it as the finale: shorten all the spokes first, then the hub tiles will fall onto free edges and clear quickly.
This board rarely stalls, but keep the safety nets in mind. Flowers and seasons match freely within their groups, flowers match any flower and seasons match any season, so they are handy for clearing odd leftovers in the hub. And if the center ever locks, Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles into a new solvable arrangement.
The Story Behind the Asterisk Layout
The word asterisk comes from the Greek for little star, and that is exactly what it has meant for over two thousand years, from ancient scholars who used it to flag noteworthy or doubtful lines of text to modern writers who use it to mark a footnote or a caveat. It is the symbol that quietly says there is more to this, look closer, which gives the humble little star a surprising amount of personality.
Its perfect radial symmetry is what makes it such a satisfying Mahjong shape. Spokes spreading evenly from a single center create a board that is balanced in every direction, and the contrast between the airy arms and the packed hub gives a clean, almost mathematical clearing rhythm. It is a small, bright, orderly silhouette that plays as neatly as it looks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to clear the Asterisk?
Pull each spoke inward starting from its outer tip. The far ends of the arms are the most exposed tiles on the board, so working them first gives you quick matches and steadily thins the lines feeding the dense center.
Should I finish one spoke before moving to the next?
No, spread your moves across all the arms evenly. The star is symmetrical, so clearing arms one at a time can leave the crowded hub stranded while everything else is empty. Rotate around the center, taking a pair from each spoke in turn.
Why do the tiles in the very center take so long to free?
The hub is where every spoke overlaps, making it the densest point on the board. Those tiles stay locked until the arms around them are cleared. Treat the center as the last step, and by then its tiles will sit on free edges and come off easily.
Is the Asterisk a good board for beginners?
Yes. At 2 out of 5 it is one of the gentlest layouts, with open spokes that produce easy early matches. Every deal is guaranteed solvable, and if the hub ever jams you can press Shuffle to re-deal the remaining tiles into a fresh solvable board.
See more Symbol Mahjong boards, or browse all layouts.
